Fiscal Cliff Could Endanger Medicaid Expansion

Governor Jack Markell met with President Obama at the White House yesterday telling him that if a deal is not reached to avert the fiscal cliff the cuts in Medicaid would force states to rethink expansion of health care for the poor under Obamacare.

Markell is chair of the National Governors Association and led a six member delegation to meet with the nation’s chief executive.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that he told the President that any modest cut in federal funding for Medicaid would have a significant impact on state budgets.

The Delaware Democrat has agreed to expand his state’s Medicaid program as a way to expand health care coverage under the president’s Affordable Care Act.

This week the President proposed saving $400 billion by making changes in Medicaid and Medicare.

The House Republicans have proposed saving $800 billion from the programs.